[C320-list] packing gland & listing to port

[Chris Burti]

Won't work around here after being left in after just a few weeks.

On 10/20/07, Robert Seastream <robert.seastream at comcast.net> wrote:
> "pull my speed transducer after
> each sail to avoid barnacles."
>
> Simple, clean it annually  haulout!  Spend more time sailing and less
> time dithering.
>
> Bob
> Intuition # 906
> On Oct 20, 2007, at 9:11 AM, Chris Burti wrote:
>
> > Yes... I really am considering adding ballast. It just kills me that I
> > can't point the same on both tacks. As we haven't loaded Commitment
> > down with junk, she shows a couple inches of bottom paint below the
> > design waterline and I can afford the weight if I stick it midships.
> >
> > But, I am intrigued by Jeff's assertion that the mast is not centered
> > if the shrouds are equal in length. Since most mastheads are
> > symmetrical this is how you plumb the mast after verifying that the
> > base is centered. Now, if the base of a deck stepped mast is not
> > centered (something you should check because, surprisingly, it appears
> > to occur often enough) then you do have to make an adjustment as Jeff
> > suggested, I have measured the base and it is centered, I have plumbed
> > my mast in the traditional way and I still have a list. Now, if there
> > is something funky about the masthead...inquiring minds want to know.
> >
> > Oh, add me to the GFX packing group also...three years and loving it.
> >
> > Got a couple of comments on the mechanical dripless seal concept...I
> > know it is debating religion, but it is Saturday and I am obviously
> > not sailing. I am of the school that thinks it it imprudent to trust
> > rubber for birth control or keeping your boat afloat. I already have
> > some down there (intake hoses, shaft log, etc.) and don't care to add
> > more.
> >
> > If the bellows fails, your boat will sink unless you can get your rag
> > and bucket working fairly quickly. The assertion that there has never
> > been a documented "catastrophic" failure may be true but, is also
> > unprovable BS. All that it means to me is that the owners got the leak
> > stopped in time or they haven't had one sink at the dock or where they
> > could recover the hull and blame it on a burst bellows.
> >
> > My belief is that the most likely time one of these things would fail
> > is while the engine is in operation and shaft is turning. Given the
> > the high quality of the components, the most likely cause would seem
> > be some improperly stored something tangling the shaft in heavy seas
> > and damaging the bellows (of course from 'statistical' viewpoint that
> > sinking wouldn't be 'caused' by the seal, it would be 'caused' by the
> > skipper's 'negligence', heheheh).Too many boats go down taking water
> > for "unknown reasons" off shore in just these conditions and the hulls
> > are never recovered. Some of those must have had dripless seals. It
> > used to be that a selling point was the fact the Coasites used them...
> > News Flash..they are now going to GFX as well.
> >
> > Note that these seals are a proven product and I doubt that if I
> > bought a boat with one installed that I would be very concerned about
> > removing it, but I can't see me spending the money installing one
> > where $10 worth of GFX (in my case it was free...better yet) provides
> > the same results and no concerns.
> >
> > I have a dry bilge generally but haven't figured out how to keep from
> > adding about a quart of water when I pull my speed transducer after
> > each sail to avoid barnacles.
> >
> > On 10/19/07, Orlando.Duran at averydennison.com
> > <Orlando.Duran at averydennison.com> wrote:
> >> Please tell me you're kidding about putting in 300lbs of stainless
> >> steel to level out the boat!!
> >>
> >> A good place to store a 1-2gal gas container is in the anchor locker,
> >> it has an 'exhaust' hole..
> >> ----------------------------------
> >> Regards,
> >> OD
> >>
> >> Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Chris Burti" [clburti at gmail.com]
> >> Sent: 10/19/2007 12:54 PM
> >> To: C320-List <c320-list at catalina320.com>
> >> Subject: Re: [C320-list] packing gland & listing to port
> >>
> >> Yes...the [port list is 'normal'. On my "to do" list is scrounging
> >> about 300 pounds of stainless scrap to level it out.
> >>
> >> Don't leave the gasoline on the boat as a precaution. I only carry it
> >> aboard when I leave on a cruise intending to take the dinghy. Not only
> >> is it a bit safer, it is always fresh. I recommend the anchor locker,
> >> it is vented better top and bottom.
> >>
> >> On 10/19/07, Moondancer5 at comcast.net <Moondancer5 at comcast.net> wrote:
> >>> Hi all,
> >>>
> >>> Now that I've had the boat back for a bit, and the weather has been
> >>> highly cooperative, I have a couple of questions on what's normal.
> >>> Thanks in advance for all advice!
> >>>
> >>> Not having had a cruiser before, we did not realize the amount of
> >>> leaking from the packing gland was abnormal, until we were splashed
> >>> this spring and the bilge pump wasn't working... after our marina
> >>> adjusted it, we had our little incident with the powerboat wake and
> >>> the whole engine had to be reset on the mounts and the shaft
> >>> re-aligned, and at the dealer the bilge was dry. After the boat was
> >>> delivered back to us there was quite a bit of water in the bilge
> >>> (and the auto pump hadn't been left on). Now we see that after every
> >>> afternoon of sailing, the shaft still drips after the engine has
> >>> been shut off. I don't imagine that adjusting the d**n thing after
> >>> each sail is normal, I had heard it should do is shed a drop of
> >>> water every minute while the engine is running, and none after it's
> >>> shut off. What's normal?
> >>>
> >>> And, I notice (and noticed before the accident) a slight (but
> >>> distinct) list to port. Is THAT normal?
> >>>
> >>> One more while I'm here: Where do you store your gasoline tank for
> >>> the dinghy when it's not in use? When at our marina in the slip, we
> >>> put the Zodiac on a rack and the outboard on the rail (which has
> >>> totally messed up the nice little slot there where we had the
> >>> Lifesling mounted, now it won't fit in there with the outboard on
> >>> the bracket). We are putting the gas tank in the starboard stern
> >>> locker, I believe the a/c compressor is in that area too. is that
> >>> safe?
> >>>
> >>> Thanks!
> >>>
> >>> Susan
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Chris Burti
> >> Farmville, NC
> >>
> >>
> >> - -----------------------------------------------------------------
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> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Chris Burti
> > Farmville, NC
> >
>
>
>


-- 
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC